Ecological Variation of plant and animal species in Danby Woods at York University

Methods: In order to assess the relationship between species abundance and habitat, 2 tape measures were used to create a 50 meter transect in a forest. 4 different surveys were conducted along the transect. The first survey was conducted on herbaceous plants. Every two meters along the 50 meter transect, a quadrat was placed, alternating between left and right of the transect, for a total of 25 replicates. Total number of native plants, exotic plants, and flowers were visually counted within each quadrat. The second survey was conducted on woody plants. Every two meters along the 50 meter transect, the trees within 0.5 meters of either side were counted, for a total of 25 replicates. The canopy coverage of each tree and the total vegetation ground coverage were visually estimated and the total number of flowers were visually counted. Only trees that were taller than 1.5m in height were counted. The third survey was conducted on vertebrates and invertebrates. Within a 50 meter radius starting at the beginning of the transect tape, visual observations were made for 15 minutes, to count abundance of vertebrates, the number of different species, and abundance of humans. 2 replicates were done for this observation. Then, within a 5 meter radius starting at the beginning of the transect tape, visual observations were made for the abundance of invertebrates, for 2 replicates. The fourth survey was conducted on invertebrates. 6 pan traps (solo bowls filled halfway with soap water) alternating between white, yellow and blue in colour were placed 3 meters apart from one another along the 50 meter transect. Total number of invertebrates caught in the pan traps were counted after 30 minutes. During the 30 minutes, sweep nets were used along the 50 meter transect for 10 replicates. Abundance of invertebrates found in the net after each sweep was counted. Study Site: This study took place at the Northeast corner of York University Keele campus on October 20th, 2016 between 2:30PM to 3:30PM. The weather was cold and rainy and the temperature was 13⁰C. The study was conducted in Danby Woods at 43.768756⁰N, -79.5079⁰W at an elevation of 126.30201 meters. The Danby Woods is a temperate deciduous forest between Chimneystack Road and York Blvd along Keele St. This forest is dominated by Sugar Maple, Buckthorn, Bur Oak, and American Beech trees. A 50 meter transect, pan traps, sweep nets, and 1m² quadrats were used as equipment. Visual counts were made to measure each attribute. Hypothesis: There will be less understory vegetation where canopy coverage is greater. This is because a greater canopy coverage reduces sunlight to plants below the tree and competes for resources, such as space, water, and nutrients in the soil. Predictions: 1) When the canopy coverage is greater, there will be less native and exotic plants. 2) When the canopy coverage is greater, there will be less ground coverage 3) When the canopy coverage is greater, there a be a lower abundance of flowers Group Members: Avani Abraham, Vanessa Guo, Monica Matta, Krysten Zarivnij Meta-data (attribute &amp; description): <b>CENSUS:</b> Every week, each lab group samples a different study site according to their lab section. For the purpose of this study, the different lab sections within the course rotated amongst 5 different sites during a 3 week study, specifically week 5 to week 7 during the duration of the ecology course. Census 1=Week 5, Census 2=Week 6, Census 3 = Week 7 (categorical data) <b>CALENDAR.DATE:</b> Month and date of data collection in 2016, in the format (oct20-2016) (discrete data) <b>CAMPUS:</b> The York University Keele campus was recorded as YorkU and the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus was recorded at UTM. (categorical data) <b>GROUP_ID:</b> The unique group identifier within each lab. Group_ID was the word “lab” followed by the first 2 digits corresponding to the lab section, then the word “group” is followed by the two digits corresponding to the group within the lab section. The TA assigns a group number within each labs section. (categorical data) <b>HABITAT:</b> Forest is defined as a large, undisturbed area dominated by trees. (categorical data) <b>LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE:</b> The geographic location of each plot in UTM coordinates (continuous data) <b>ELEVATION:</b> The mean height of the observed location above the sea level measured in meters. (continuous data) <b>REP:</b> The number of replicates per observation. (discrete data) <b>ABUNDANCE.NATIVE.PLANTS:</b> A 1m² quadrat was used to measure the abundance of native vegetation in the quadrat. Quadrats were used to determine the abundance of vegetation along a 50m transect. Quadrats were placed on alternating sides 2m apart along the 50m transect. (discrete data) <b>ABUNDANCE.EXOTIC.PLANTS:</b> A 1m² quadrat was used to measure the abundance of exotic vegetation in the quadrat. Quadrats were used to determine the abundance of vegetation along a 50m transect. Quadrats were placed on alternating sides 2m apart along the 50m transect. (discrete data) <b>TOTAL.NUMBER.FLOWERS:</b> The total number of individual flower heads observed in alternating 1m² quadrats along the 50m transect every 2 meters. (discrete data) <b>ABUNDANCE.WOODY.PLANTS:</b> At every 2m mark, the number of trees was counted within 0.5m on both sides of the 50m transect. A tree was considered any vegetation with woody stems above 1.5m in height. (discrete data) <b>CANOPY.COVER:</b> A visual estimate of the woody plant canopy cover was observed. To visually estimate canopy coverage, a rectangle was formed with two hands, and canopy coverage in the area formed was used as the estimate. This was then recorded as a whole number between 1 and 100. (continuous data) <b>GROUND.COVER:</b> A visual estimate of the total cover of ground vegetation was conducted at each 2m mark. The percentage value was recorded as a whole number between 1 and 100. (continuous data) <b>TOTAL.FLOWER.NUMBERS:</b> Total number of flowers within 1m on either side of the transect tape was roughly observed and recorded. (discrete data) <b>ABUNDANCE.VERTEBRATES:</b> Vertebrates, including birds and small mammals, were observed within 50m radius of the beginning of the 50m transect for 15mins. (discrete data) <b>VERTEBRATE.RICHNESS:</b> Any vertebrate species that looked different was considered a unique species and counted independent of similar looking species. Abundance of unique vertebrate species observed during a 15min survey period. (discrete data) <b>ABUDANCE.HUMAN:</b> Total number of humans not part of the study in the study area were observed and recorded. Observations were made within 50m radius of the beginning of the 50m transect for 15mins. (discrete data) <b>ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.PANTRAPS:</b> Total number of insects captured using pan traps placed along a 50m transect at ground level. (discrete data) <b>ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.SWEEPS:</b> Total number of insects captured using sweep nets used along a 50m transect at ground level. (discrete data) <b>ABUNDANCE.INVERTEBRATES.OBSERVED:</b> Total number of flying insects counted within a 5m radius around the 0 meter end of the 50m transect. Each observation of invertebrates was conducted for a duration of 15 min. (discrete data)

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